Wheel structure



Oct. 9, 1945.

G. A. LYON wH-EEL STRUCTURE original Filed Nov. 25, 1940 Patented Oct.9, 1945 WHEEL sTRUe'rUaE' George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, NQJ. Originalapplication November 25, 1940, Serial No.'

366,972, now Patent No. 2,326,788, datecljAug'uSt` 17, 1943. Divided andthis: application July 2,

' 1942, Serial No. 449,399

s claims. (.Cl; sor- 37) This invention relates to a wheel structure,and more particularly to a wheel cover provided with means coop'erablein a new way with the tire rim to vhold the cover on the wheel'.Y This'ap` plication is a division 'of my copending application, Serial Number366,972,v entitled Wheel structure, filed November 25, 1940,'now maturedinto Patent No. 2,326,788, issued August 17, 194:3.`

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensiveWheelrcover having means arranged to enable the cover to be sprung intoretained detachable engagement with the tire rim of the wheel. t

l Still another object of this invention relates to he provision of amulti-part cover member wherein the outer part is spring retained incooperation with the rim of the wheel and wherein the inner partcomprises a hub cap snapped into detachable retained engagement vwithfa` flange on the outer part of the cover.'

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there isprovided in a Wheelv structure including a flanged and shouldered tirerim, a wheel cover cooperable with a shoulder of vthe rim whichcomprises a circular'member provided with a ring-like portion having aplurality of radially outwardly projecting indentations and flexibleover and behind the rim shoulder whereby the cover may be sprunginto-retained vdetachable engagement with the tire rim.

Another feature of the inventionI relates .to making the cover of twoconcentric circular parts, the outer of which is sprung intodetachablerctained engagement with the tire rim, and the inner of whichVcomprises a hub cap provided with a continuous rear inner edge adaptedto be sprung over'cooperating bumps on a flange of the outer coverparts.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear fromthe `following rdetailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which: j

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a' wheel and cover structure embodyingthe features of this invention;

`Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional View taken on thelline II-II of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by thearrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional view corresponding to the upper right-handportion of Figure 2 but drawn on an enlarged scale; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view corresponding to the central portion ofFigure 2, but drawn to a slightly enlarged scale.

The reference character |-0' designates' gen- 'erally a drop *centertype'of tire riml which is madeeup of a pluralityof side flanges or:shoulders l Yand a base flange l2, the latter of .which isr suitablyfastened to the wheel body or spider i3. The body |3 is of the usualbulgedor convex cross section andk hasv the usual central 'wheel bolt-onange I4. l

ACooperable with this wheel is a multi-part wheel cover embodying thefeatures of this iin-y vention and designated generally by'thereferer1/ce character I5. This wheel cover includes two concentriccircular parts I6 and I1 which are made from suitable sheet metal. I`have ob# tained excellent resultsby making wheel covers from stainlesssteel sheet and`from-18''8 steel sheet having a thickness in theneighborhood of .020 of an inch. vIt is, of course, to be understoodthat any suitable sheet `material lmay 'be used,` as longas ithas therequisite rig'idity'and resiliency to' accomplish" vention. Y t

The outer cover'partl is in'theform of an annulusand'is shaped generallyto conform with the contour of the surfacesl of the portions of the rimand body over which it is disposed; however, preferably it is corrugatedto enhance its rigidity and resiliency.` This `outer cover. part is madeup of two sections comprising the'corrugated part 29 'and the outer ringlike part 30 Vwhich are ljoined together vinto an integral annulus by alock seam or bead 3|. *Thisbead is formed by turning theinner vedge ofpart 30 back upon itself as indicated at 3| and by turning the outeredge 32 of part 29 inside of the turned inner edge 3| of part 30. In4actual practice, the turned edge'32 is disposed along the inner'edge ofthe ring 30, and this inner edge'is then'turned as indicated at 3l aboutthe edge 32 to lock the two parts'together For'all intents and purposes,however, once the parts are locked together, they comprisea singleannulusl I6. This annulus includes a 'generally axially extendingportion 2|.' This portion 2| is provided with a plurality of outwardlyextending protuberances 35 adapted to be sprung over the shoulder 22 onthe tire rim. f

From the foregoing, it will'be perceivedthat the seam 3|reinforcesthecover adjacent the point where it flexes in the act 'ofswinging the bumps A35 over and into retaining kcooperation with theshoulder 22. The parts 29 and 30 are joined together to provide agenerally axially extending portion which is adapted to. overlie agenerally axially extending `flange, of the ring. The outer extremity ofthe portion 30 is curved into a he objectives of my ingenerally radiallyextending portion 30a reinforced by a turned bead 20. This bead may becontiguous with the adjoining flange I I or it may bespaced therefrom asdesired, depending upon the construction of the cover, The turned edgeor bead is advantageous in that it provides a reinforced area on thewheel cover adapted to be engaged by a pry-off tool when it is desiredto forcibly eject the wheel cover from the wheel.

As noted before, the cover part I6 -is in the form of an annulus andextends over a part of the eX- posed outer surface of the tire rim, asWell as over a portion of the wheel bodyV I3. The inner edge of thisannulus I6 is bent axially outwardly into a flange 23 which is providedwith a plurality.

of spaced outwardly projecting radial protuberances 24. Theseprotuberances 24 are cooperable with the rear inner beaded edge 25 ofthe cover part comprising an annulus the inner edge of which is formedinto an outwardly extending iiange forming a seat for said hub cap part,said ange having a plurality of outwardly extending bumps, and said hubcap part including a continuous vrear edge sprung over said bumps intoretained detachable engagement with said fiange.

3. In a wheel structure including a flanged and shouldered tire rim, aswell as a body part, the shoulder in said rim being in an axial flangeof the rimand comprising a radially depressed ann ular section definingon one side of the rim a -seat for the tire bead and on the other side acover retaining shoulder, a Wheel cover cooperable with said shoulder ofsaid rim comprising a circular member having a substantially axiallydisposed portion provided with a plurality of hub cap part i1. By reasonof the fact that the edge 25 is continuous, it follows that when the hub1cap is pressed into cooperation with the bump 2l, .the iedge 25 isdistorted out of its normal circular shape, so that it passes over thebumps to the :rear surfaces thereof to retain the hub cap onthe part i6;

The beaded edge. 25 is not permitted to reassume its normal circularshape when itis on the :dange 23, .and as a consequence'it exerts aresilientxpressure on the bumps .thereby retaining the hub .cap inposition.

It vshould be noted that the hub cap is of a generally concavo-convexcross section and is reinforced at its crown by anvinner circular shelll2.5 suitably secured in place inside of the central portionof the hubcap.

:It will be observed that in the construction shown herein I utilize therim shoulder in the retaining of the wheel cover on the wheel. Thisshoulder'is one of two provided in the rim flanges to prevent slippingor sliding vof the tire beads toward the base flange of the rim. Withoutsuch shoulders there is a marked tendency of the beads slidingtransversely toward the rim base flange I2 when the tire is puncturedand thereby occasioning damage to or excessive wear of the tire. Thusthese shoulders are employed for a dual function in vmy novel wheelconstruction.

Y :I claim as my invention:

1. In a wheel'struture including a anged and shouldered tire rim, theshoulder in said rim being in .an axial Iiange of the rim and comprisinga radially depressed annular section defining on one side of the rim aseat for a tire bead and on the other side .a cover retaining shoulder,a wheel.

cover cooperable with said shoulder of said rim comprising a circularmember providedwith a ring like' portion having a continuous annularvrib projecting substantially radially inwardly therefrom, and aplurality of spaced bumps projecting radially therefrom for contactingthe rim shoulders, saidfbumps being disposed axially inwardly from saidrib, and in the vicinity thereof whereby the area of said 'covercontaining said bumps is rigidied.

2'. In a wheel structure including a flanged and shouldered tire rim, awheel cover cooperable with the shoulder of said rim, comprising acircular member provided with a ring like portion having a plurality ofspaced, outwardly extending bumps projecting substantially radiallytherefrom and flexible over and behind said rim shoulder whereby thecover may be sprung into retained detachable engagement with said tirerim, said cover including two concentric circular parts the outer ofwhich includes said portion and the inspaced bumps projectingsubstantially radially outward therefrom, and flexible over and behindsaid rim shoulder whereby the cover may 'be sprunginto retaineddetachable engagement with said tire rim, said cover including twoconcentric circular parts, the outer of which includes saidY means andthe inner of which comprises a hub cap, one of said parts having aplurality of radially projecting bumps, and the other having acontinuous circular edge adapted to be sprung over and behind said bumpsto retain said other memberon the former..`

4; In Vaiwheel structure including a anged and shouldered tire rim, theshoulder in said rim being in an axial flange of the rim and comprisinga radially depressed annular section dening on one side 'of the rim aseat for the tire bead and lon the other side alcover retaining.shoulder, said wheel cover cooperable with said shoulder of said rimcomprising 'a ,circular member provided with a ring like portion havinga plurality of bumps struck therefrom and projecting substantiallyradially outwardly therefrom and exible over and behind said rimshoulder whereby the cover may be sprung to retained detachableengagement with said tire rim, said cover ycomprising two concentricparts lock seamed together in a radially inwardly extending rib disposedin the vicinity of said bumps whereby thev area of said cover containingsaid bumps is rigldied `5. In a wheel structure including a flanged andshouldered tire rim, as well as' a body part, the shoulder of said rimbeing in an axial flange of the rim and comprising a radially depressedannular section defining on one side of the rim a seat for the tire beadand on the other side a cover retaining shoulder, a wheel covercooperable with said shoulder of said rim comprising a circular memberhaving a plurality of spaced bumps 'projecting substantially radiallyoutward therefrom and exible over and behind said rim shoulder and aninwardly extending rib disposed adjacent to said bumps' to rigidify thecover area containing the same, said bumps being ilexible over andbehind said rim shoulder whereby the cover may be sprung into out ofround detachable engagement with the tire rim, said cover including twoconcentric circular parts the outer of which includes saidbumps and theinner of which comprises a hub cap, one of said parts having a pluralityof radially projecting bumps and the other having a continuous circularedge adapted to be sprung over and behind said bumps to retain saidother member on the former. Y

6. As an article of manufacture, a wheel cover cooperable with a rigidshoulder of a tire rim comprising'a circular member provided with agenerally radially extending portion and a generally axially extendingring like portion having a plurality of spaced radially outwardlyprojecting bumps thereon and a trim ring disposed in concentric relationwith said circular member and having its inner edge lock seamed togetherwith the outer edge of -said generally axially extending ring-likeportion of the circular member to afford a radially projecting rib forrigidifying the area of the cover containing said bumps.

7. As an article of manufacture, a wheel cover cooperable with a rigidshoulder of a tire rim comprising a circular member provided with agenerally axially extending ring like portion having a plurality ofspaced radially outwardly projecting bumps thereon and a trim ringdisposed in concentric relation with said circular member a plurality ofspaced bumps projecting substantially radially outwardly from said ringlike member, and a hub cap portion having a beaded substantially axiallyextending outer edge ilexible over and behind said last named bumpswhereby the hub cap may be sprung into retained detachment with saidcircular member.

8. In a wheel structure including a wheel having tire rim and centralload bearing parts, a multi-partwheel trim construction including anouter trim ring section for disposition over the rim part, a hub capsection for disposition over the central load bearing part and anintermediate trim section arranged for retaining engagement with a partof the wheel for retainingly engaging said outer trim ring section andthe hub cap section to retain the same as a unit on the wheel, saidintermediate section and the cooperating wheel rim part havinginterengaging shoulder and recessed means brought into cooperation by asnapon engagement of the intermediate trim section.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

